OF NEW ENGLAND. 373 



great age, sixty, eighty, and as some assert, one hundred years. 

 This circumstance is remarkable, when we consider the seem- 

 ing intemperate habits of tlie bird. Sometimes fasting, 

 through necessit}', for several days, and at other times gorging 

 itself with animal food till its craw swells out the plumage of 

 that part, forming a large protuberance on the breast." 



The Bald Eagles do not invariably sail when flying, but often 

 progress b}' a continuous beating of the wings. They also oc- 

 casionally plunge through the air, even doing so, it has been 

 stated, from a height of several thousand feet, with a loud 

 rustle, which may be heard at a considerable distance. Though 

 notorious for their robbing of the Fish Hawks, they sometimes 

 condescend to fish for themselves in the manner of those birds. 

 This fact I have personally witnessed, and it has been corrobo- 

 rated by other naturalists. They also attack wild-fowl, espec- 

 ially if wounded, and have been known, on finding a crippled 

 Brant, to plant themselves upon it, and, spreading their wings, 

 to sail to shore. 



(d). The Bald Eagles are usually silent. A young one, 

 which I observed in confinement, snored when sleeping, and, 

 when awake, frequentlj' hissed or uttered extraordinary sounds, 

 suggestive of the pig-st}', though not unlike disagreeable laugh- 

 ter. These are the chief items of interest which I can add to 

 Wilson's account. 



IX. PANDION 



(A) HALiAi:TUS (var. carolinensis) . Fish Haiok. {Ameri- 

 can) Osprey. 



(In New England, a summer-resident, but very rare in Mas- 

 sachusetts. 



(a). About two feet long. Under parts, and the head, ivhite. 

 Eye-stripe, and the upper parts, dark. Tail, banded. Breast, 

 spotted or streaked with brown. Feet, large and stout, pre- 

 senting, as does the plumage, certain peculiarities. 



(6). The nest is extremely large, being usually repaired and 

 added to from year to year. It is composed of sticks, of which 

 there is often a cart-load, and is lined with sea-weed, or other 



